Press release

Montreal, July 7, 2004 - Atopia is pleased to announce that A SILENT LOVE by Federico Hidalgo has been officially selected as part of the 2004 Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF).

Starring Vanessa Bauche (Amores Perros) who “radiates a crackling intelligence and south-of-the-border spunk” [Variety], A SILENT LOVE is a love-triangle comic drama that unfolds both in Montreal and Mexico. The film has won two Best Screenplay awards, at the Brooklyn International Film Festival and the Miami Latin Film Festival, where Mexican discovery Susana Salazar picked up an Honorable Mention for her outstanding performance: “Susana Salazar basks gloriously in one of those rare roles that allows an actress of "a certain age" to seem funny, sexy, vital…” [Variety] A SILENT LOVE has also garnered public and critical acclaim at some of the world's most prestigious film festivals, including Sundance 2004, the Guadalajara Muestra de Cine, and the Museum of Modern Art’s New Canadian Film Showcase. A SILENT LOVE is a first feature by Argentine-Canadian writer/director Federico Hidalgo and is produced by Pascal Maeder. Bauche, Hidalgo, and Maeder will attend the 2004 Latino International Film Festival to promote the film. Theatrical release in the US and Canada is scheduled for Fall 2004.

Noel Burton plays Norman, a shy, middle-aged teacher from Montreal who meets Gladys, a beautiful, impulsive Mexican woman (Bauche), through the services of an Internet agency. Full of hope, Norman flies off to Mexico to ask Gladys to marry him and move to Montreal. Gladys agrees on one condition, that her widowed mother, Fernanda (Salazar) comes along. Norman readily agrees, unaware of the romantic sparks that are about to fly. Unexpected feelings and desires between Norman, Gladys and Fernanda heat up and culminate in an emotional showdown.

Atopia’s production branch was founded four years ago and the company recently expanded its operations to domestic distribution. Several projects are slated for production, including Federico Hidalgo's next film. Further information on A SILENT LOVE can be found on its official web site at www.asilentlove.com.

A SILENT LOVE will be presented on July 22nd at 9H15 PM at the Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Blvd. Los Angeles, California.

- 30 -

News posted Wednesday, July 7, 2004.